We might not be sounding like typical Canadian hosers for much longer, at least according to a recent study at Memorial University of Newfoundland (coincidentally the home of one of Canada’s most identifiable accents).

Apparently we’re going through a vowel shift, so words like “pillow” are now being pronounced as “pellow,” “dress” may sound more like “drass,” and “laugh” may be said like “loff.”

“Over hundreds of years, all languages go through these types of changes,” said Paul De Decker, professor of linguistics at Memorial University. “It just so happens to be Canada’s time.”

Horror of horrors! Does this mean we’re going to start sounding more like our neighbours to the south? We hope not. De Decker insists that no, we’re not, but our new accent may have some similarities to the folks in California, who are also going through a similar shift at the moment.

According to De Decker, it all starts in urban environments — so Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are probably the instigators of change — but it’s happening from coast to coast, so we’re all in this together.

Learn more about our evolving accents from De Decker in the video, above.